Phase II is unique in the fact that every candidate is stripped of their rank and everyone is referred to as a number. That means that a cadet will be placed on an equal playing field with a commissioned and non-commissioned officer. Becoming a SPECWAR officer requires maturity and the ability to lead men when times are tough, you are tired. You must know how to be able to speak to Type A and Type B and when to shift your leadership accordingly.
Any job in which you are in charge of multiple cadets. Positions that require you to make decisons that will affect everyone else.
One thing to look out for is to make sure you don't get cocky. Becareful with positions that have an authoritarian personality bc the goal is to learn to be a servant leader not a dictator who believes they are always right. Every position listed below will give you a great leadership opportunity.
1st semester
2nd semester
3rd semester
4th semester
5th semester
AEF CC
IMT Flight CC
FTP instructor
6th semester
AEF CC
IMT Flight CC
FTP instructor
Phase 0 vice president
7th semester
Executive (IMT/FTP)
Senior (IMT/FTP)
Phase 0 president
Wing Staff
AA senior staff
8th semester
Executive (IMT/FTP)
Senior (IMT/FTP)
Phase 0 president
Wing Staff
AA senior staff
If you are a freshman or transfer and are not prior active duty, AAS is essential to expose you to a stressful situation to see how your body reacts to people yelling in your face. The yelling combined with physical tasks and time hacks will help prepare you mentally and help keep you calm in non-stressful situations. It will teach you to keep a level head and allow you to focus on your leadership.
But I want to do the other organization?
That is fine. You can join which ever org you wish; AAS is the closest thing you will get to the stress you will be exposed to at Phase II. The intensity will not be as high but the idea will be the same: cadre/training actives will screen and evaluate the candidates ans expose them to stress to make them quit. No other organization will do what AAS does a great job at doing.
But I'm older and am prior service.
Then this isn't necessary and you might find it unnecessary bc you've gone through bootcamp. If you have been through some training envirnment that has tested your leadership understressful yelling and during physical events then you do not need this. It is mostly for people who haven't had that opportunity.
The goal of joining an organization
to learn how your body reacts to stressful yelling, physical stress, while trying to efficiently accomplish tasks in a timely manner. Once you learn where the stress becomes to much and you begin to crack, you know what you need to work on and improve.
Addressing weaknesses (in leadership or physical)
Any weakness that you have now will be exposed and exploited at phase II. It will be used to break you and they will push and push until you make it to the end of the week or they make you quit. Do not let that happen. Address any and all weaknesses during training and while you prepare.
Simple.
Take every and any leadership opportunity you can.
First Hand: ROTC Job + PDT + Organization + Job + clubs
Second Hand: + Podcasts + Books + Stories
= your ROTC leadership
You need to get experience in all of the above setions. There is no way that a 18-25 year old can have the same leadership experience that a professional on active duty will have by just going to ROTC and phase 0. In order to even the playing field you need to read about others experience and you need to expose yourself to situations that make you uncomforable. It is during those moments of being uncomfortable that you learn about yourself and you grow as an individual. Everyone has a different leadership style and good leader isn't always the person who has been working the longest...it takes intel
Everytime you have any leadership opportunity, write it down. It is that simple. When it comes down to write your resume, just pull out your document and have your NCOIC help you put a resume together.